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Santa Cruz Tallboy vs Yeti SB-95?
If you were going to get your first 29er and narrowed it down to a Santa Cruz Tallboy (Carbon) or Yeti SB-95, what would choose? Both are said to be extremely efficient going up and down, but do you think the Yeti will be more versatile and resilient and worth the wait or would the current Tallboy reviews be enough for you to pull the trigger now?
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after trying a 29er & various 26inchers at the G'Rock opening day I say a 26inch has the cornering speed or turn in beat on a 29er any day!
I've got a Mate with a Tall Boy and he says he's more than happy with it!
Can't wait till I get my Full Suss 29er!
29'ers normally pan out quicker in the long run, Mark. Do a search on Christian Sauser 26 V 29. Even he was surprised. Also, riding a 26er all the time and jumping on a 29er is no way to test a 29er. It would be like me jumping back on a 26" bike. I would probably find it too twitchy. But given time, you get used to what you ride. I have no difficulties getting around any corner in Glenrock on a SS29er. The bike requires a bit more body language, but you get used to it.
Out of those 2, I would go the one with the 142x12 QR rear end. Which I think only the SB95 has. They are both very excellent bikes and without hearing ride reviews on the SB95, that would be the way I would pick a winner.
Hmmm, both really nice bikes, but I'd be throwing in a carbon JET 9 RDO Niner into the mix. Just to make the selection even more difficult.
http://www.ninerbikes.com/jet9rdo
Very different beast to a 26 hardtail. Got a 5" 26er dually, and a hard tail 29er find at the moment I am riding the 29er hard tail everywhere, the rough and rockier the better.
Just remember to pay extra attention to the 29er FS bike fit, I’m about 6.1.ish and when selecting my FS 29er I had an argument with the shop as they insisted I get a “Medium” (all my other bikes are Large) I double checked all the measurements on all my bikes and it pretty much came down to the Medium being a few mm shorter in the top tube length, I could get the saddle height (would show a fair bit of seat tube) and everything else I could tune around.
After getting the bike, riding it for a while and then checking out the Large frame in detail (man that things a freeking draft horse) .. I’m glad I erred on the smaller frame size, the only thing is this bike seems to put my weight bias forward and I need to be more diligent about my rearward/forward balance when hitting small jumps when I’m getting lazy and tend to stay in the saddle. I’m on the lookout for a layback post and shorter stem or swept bars.
I guess what I’m saying is given the FS 29ers geometry challenges, they tend to be generally big bikes with long chain stays, you should take extra care in frame fit.
Go the Yeti!
of course
Three things in life are certain death tax and bikes always improving get the tallboy and get riding and don't spend your days wondering
I think there is a shootout of the 4 29ers in the latest AMB?
Tallboy!
tall boy all the way. @RobbieO. 29ers corner just fine. If you are used to 26ers, you will ride it like a 26er, then it will corner like a dog, if you get over the front wheel, and push it into the corner you will zip around very well indeed.
only got one because I got it for a great price and knew I couldn't lose if I didn't like it - well 6 months later and I sold the 26 full suss and haven't missed it yet. Did need to get used to the 29er but once I was, no contest for the riding I do.
was no ordinary full susser either was it Harry???
is what it was.
Harry, what 29er are you riding?
is what it is. My son got an Aggressor 29er now as well.
You riding a giant by chance???
Nope.. My FS29 is a Niner Rip9.
ah, i see. Yep, I had a niner as well, they do have a longer chainstay (never had a dually niner though) I think the latest generation of 29ers are far more friendly with that chainstay length. Specialised seem to have it fairly dialed.
Still keen on the Satori atm. But I must admit, I have not checked the chain stay lengths. I would like a shorter stay than the Monocog. My mate got a nice Custom Ti 29er built, recently. It has nice short chain stays.
http://tinyurl.com/3d8hjap
Some 29 FS bikes curve the seat tube as to tuck in the rear wheel at travel, this reduces the required chain-stay length.
I have a 29er hard tail as well and it also seems to trade off between CS length, tyre clearance and Q factor, but this one has sliding drop outs so I can tune the effective CS length somewhat (front derailleur clearance is the limiting factor here) and I was surprised at the difference a few mm in CS length can seem to make.
I ride a spanking new Epic Expert 29er. I have found that everything that is commonly said about 29ers (little extra to get it up to speed, rolls much better than my 26er, etc.) is roughly true except for the cornering. I don't have any issues with getting my bike around the same corners as my 26er. Maybe it's to do with the shorter chainstay compared to some 29ers but the geometry of the Epic is excellent and one of the reasons I ended up going for it. It's a rocket of a bike and I would recommend to anyone looking for a versatile 29er dually race bike.
@daveh, where are the pics of your new bike
I went from a 575 to a 29er HT. Now there's a sad 575 waiting for the day my 13 year old grows 3" taller.
I went to a Niner S.I.R.9 as my first 29er after trialling a mate's Vassago Jabberwocky. Both steel bikes with shortish chainstays, and reasonably quick handling. My second 29er has a really short wheelbase and lots of fork offset (think G2 + 12 mm) and it handles quicker than any 26er trail bike I've ridden.
I reckon if you'd buy a 100 mm travel FS 26er, then a HT 29er will probably give you an acceptable ride comfort with a lot less complexity and weight. If you'd buy a 150 mm FS 26er, then a FS29er is probably more to what you need. That I went from a 150 mm 26er to a fully rigid 29er in 6 months just says I'm a numpty!
Both my 29ers have EBBs which do change the effective chainstay length when adjusted, but for seated riding the wheel to saddle positioning stays the same. The size of the EBB shell allows a slacker seat tube angle so the saddle can get pushed further back with the wheel effectively tucked under even though the intersection point of the seat tube is further forward of the axle... hard to describe, easy to appreciate when riding.
Oh and sorry for the Hi jack....
Get the Yeti!
Already have a 100mm FS 26er, but thinking that the 120mm Yeti might suit the BC Bike Race a bit better?
...My Banshee Paradox, thing accelerates and climbs the rough stuff like a mountain goat.
@slowpup: give it about a year and a bit. My now 15yo had been drooling over my bike for awhile. About February I realised that in his army cadet boots he could look me in the eye, and I knew it was time for a hand-me-down from the old bloke.
Well, that was the excuse I gave Vera for getting a new bike.
I'm with you on that one Floydo. I got a paradox as well, snaaaappppyyyyy
Find that I'm riding the Paradox more than the dually, Banshee Spitfire. Can't wait till the Prime gets here, couple of test bikes should be here before Xmas. One will be based in Sydney. Can't wait to try one.
all i own these days is a ss paradox. Thing is perfect for smashing with no gears. I was on the list for a proto Prime, couldn't afford to do build it up, had to knock it back
Its all down to the rider.
Some drivers buy a Ferrari, some a Maserati and the some buy a bright orange Lamborghini.
All built with love, care and attention and all fast.
Its good to have the choice.
If your stuck, try mtbr.com
mpn
Hi Andy
I've had my Tallboy now for 6 months and I'm very happy with it. Did a lot of comparing / testing before I build this one up etc. Good fit, great climber, light, fast, sturdy ....
Why don't you come and meet for a test ride - you can try mine - it's your size....
Pics:
http://nobmob.com/node/20604
I think I'll take you up on that offer in the near future. Thanks Hans.